Transcript Highlights:

• Across the US, people with disabilities, including people with intellectual and developmental disabilities
• She was disabled. How is she going to go up and down the stairs? She can't.
• As you heard Mike Myrtle said, the benefit is $168 million.
• By spending 1.3 million, it's benefiting the economy by $168 million.
• Uh, this, so this only applies to disabled and low-income indigent tenants.

Bills: HB303

Committee: House Intergovernmental Affairs

Keywords: jail standards, living conditions, Harris County jail, safety, inmate welfare

Transcript Highlights:

• If they're getting unemployment benefits or they've applied for unemployment benefits, if they're going
• themselves and then, you know, maybe any other public benefits.
• worth of public benefit versus, you know, $2,700 adult ed only.
• We verify if someone is disabled.
• Who's in school, who, you know, who is disabled, and all of those things.

Committee: All ALC-HOSPITAL, MEDICAID, & DEVELOPMENTAL DISABILITIES STUDY SUBCOMMITTEE

Summary: The subcommittee received a brief DHS update on the Living Choices Assisted Living Waiver reimbursement rate process, with Secretary Janet Mann reporting that the new cost reporting period began in January and that DHS has begun provider and contractor conference calls as the process moves forward. The bulk of the meeting focused on DHS’s overview of TANF and, especially, SNAP changes under the federal One Big Beautiful Bill. Mary Franklin explained new SNAP work requirements for adults ages 18 to 64 who are not otherwise exempt, including the three-month time limit in a 36-month period unless they meet an 80-hour monthly work, volunteer, education, or training requirement. She also reviewed exemptions, noted that some prior exemptions were removed while new tribal-related exemptions were added, and described SNAP Employment and Training providers, budgets, service areas, participant characteristics, and outcomes. Members asked about how mandatory referrals will work, whether funding and vendors are sufficient, how cross-program participation is tracked, how verification and recertification will be handled, and how error rates and sanctions will be managed. DHS said mandatory participants will be referred directly to providers, verification will occur at application and recertification, interviews can be by phone, and the department will return with more information on error-rate mitigation and other requested data. DHS then outlined upcoming Medicaid community engagement requirements for the ARHOME population under the same federal law, which must be implemented by January 1, 2027. The department said it is preparing policy, system changes, data matching, communications, and an outbound customer-service verification process, with a soft launch planned for July to help identify who would meet the requirement or need to provide more information. Members raised concerns about notice, local versus centralized decision-making, and how clients will document work, school, caregiving, or medical exemptions. The meeting concluded with broader discussion of the Alliance for Opportunity audit and a shared emphasis on using SNAP, Medicaid, TANF, and workforce programs together to improve outcomes, expand training options, and better connect Arkansans to education and employment opportunities. The committee also discussed extending the audit contract at a future meeting and adjourned without taking any formal vote in the transcript provided.

Transcript Highlights:

• If they're getting unemployment benefits or they've applied for unemployment benefits, if they're going
• But essentially it will result in the loss of benefits for them if they refuse to participate.
• themselves and then, you know, maybe any other public benefits.
• worth of public benefit versus, you know, $2,700 adult ed only.
• So in the SNAP program we verify income; we verify if someone is disabled.

Committee: All ALC-HOSPITAL, MEDICAID, & DEVELOPMENTAL DISABILITIES STUDY SUBCOMMITTEE

Keywords: 1204, all

Transcript Highlights:

• They help us understand Louisiana's disability services and supports.
• They offer trainings to help families understand the disability system.
• My disability is very visible. However, I also sit before you.
• And Elizabeth Watts, People with Disabilities.
• I have the benefit of having two daughters over at St.

Committee: Senate Finance

Summary: The committee met for public testimony on the Finance budget, with the main discussion focused first on funding for disability services and then on the LA GATOR scholarship program. Several individuals testified in support of fully funding Families Helping Families and Louisiana Rehabilitation Services (LRS), describing how advocacy, transition services, and direct support workers help people with disabilities access education, employment, and independent living. Witnesses urged the committee to preserve or increase state general funds to draw down federal matching dollars, and provider groups said current reimbursement rates and staffing shortages are leaving agencies in deficit, creating waitlists, overtime costs, and difficulty retaining workers. Committee members thanked the speakers and noted that the testimony would be used to compare the governor’s, House, and remaining budget requests. The committee then heard extensive testimony in support of increasing funding for the LA GATOR scholarship program. Supporters included policy groups, school leaders, parents, and students who argued that the program expands educational choice, helps low-income and special-needs students find schools that fit their needs, and should be fully funded at the level of demonstrated demand. Speakers from Catholic and Christian schools said GATOR funding had helped students thrive academically and spiritually, but that shortfalls left many eligible students without awards, hurt kindergarten enrollment, and forced schools to raise private donations to cover gaps. Several witnesses emphasized that the program is not a zero-sum attack on public schools, but a way to let education dollars follow students. A few committee questions focused on the fiscal impact and on whether choice programs improve outcomes without harming public schools. Testimony cited enrollment growth, parent demand, and data from other states to argue that school choice can improve student and parent outcomes and may also strengthen traditional public schools through competition. No votes or formal actions were taken during the public testimony portion of the meeting.

Transcript Highlights:

• So dis disabled veterans, Legion of, uh, Legion of Valor recipients.
• Probably disabled veteran plate population would be the largest of these three.
• I'm a disabled veteran, and I'm representing myself, and I am for this bill.
• Central Texas Regional Mobility Authority, also as a disabled veteran.
• Um, so those are the parameters on disabled veteran.

Bills: HCR7

Committee: House S/C on Defense & Veterans' Affairs

Keywords: memorial, tribute, military service, community contribution, Texas legislature

Transcript Highlights:

• hazardous duty benefits.
• So the minimum benefit that this bill proposes is that the benefits paid would be 25% of pay to the disabled
• So the minimum benefit that this bill proposes is that the benefits paid would be 25% of pay to the disabled
• </c> benefits are an optional enhancement. benefits are an optional enhancement.
• </c> need of those hazardous duty benefits. need of those hazardous duty benefits.

Keywords: 958, all

Summary: The committee heard testimony from Rep. Ashley Tacket Laferty on a bill to expand minimum hazardous-duty retirement and health benefits for certain public safety workers injured in the line of duty. She used a video and examples from Floyd County to describe officers and an emergency management director who were catastrophically injured but did not qualify for existing hazardous-duty coverage because their employers had enrolled them in non-hazardous retirement plans. The bill would provide a minimum benefit of 25% of pay, plus 10% for dependent children and limited health coverage, for eligible workers who cannot return to hazardous work. Laferty said the proposal would apply retroactively through a five-year window, estimated to affect a limited number of workers statewide, and would be funded by small increases in employer contribution rates. Committee members questioned how many former employees might qualify, how the bill interacts with the pension system, and who would pay the added cost. Discussion also noted that local governments choose whether to place employees in hazardous or non-hazardous coverage, largely based on cost. The sheriff’s association was present online in support, and no vote was taken. The committee then heard Rep. Daniel Gber present a revised bill allowing teachers and school district employees to use accumulated sick leave to observe religious holidays not already on the school calendar, if they provide a personal statement and sufficient advance notice. He said the measure is intended to address the rigid school calendar and the difficulty teachers face in observing non-school holidays without losing service credit toward retirement. He noted that the earlier version of the bill had allowed make-up work time, but the current draft is shorter and focused on sick leave use. He also referenced a supporting letter from a constituent who could not attend because of weather. The bill was presented for discussion only, with no committee action reported.

Transcript Highlights:

• I am a disabled veteran myself.
• I am the daughter of a disabled veteran, a Vietnam War veteran, Career Air Force, and also the mother
• in a way that benefits us.
• in a way that benefits us.
• I'm an Air Force disabled veteran, and I support this bill. Thank you. Thank you.

Summary: The committee met with one item on the agenda: Senate Bill 623 by Senator Arreguín. The bill would implement SCA 4 by providing property tax relief to veterans and their families, including allowing eligible veterans to combine the homeowners’ exemption with the disabled veterans’ or veterans’ exemption and removing certain property limitations tied to qualification. The author described the measure as a way to recognize veterans and improve access to tax benefits. The bill received broad support in testimony from veterans and veterans’ advocates, including disabled veterans, combat veterans, and representatives of veterans organizations and health advocacy groups. Supporters said the measure would better honor service members and provide meaningful financial relief. No opposition testimony was offered, and no committee member raised objections during the hearing. The committee voted 3-0 to pass SB 623 as a due pass recommendation to the Committee on Appropriations. The vote was initially held open for Senator Menjivar, and the chair later noted that the committee had established a quorum and the bill had been moved out of committee.

Transcript Highlights:

• And they all have different eligibility requirements and benefits as well as application processes.
• And they all have different eligibility requirements and benefits as well as application processes.
• Congress allowed concurrent retirement and disability pay beginning in 2004, but on the ...
• One of them is, of course, a service-connected disabled designation where you have a disability that
• The benefits they have rightfully earned through service and sacrifice.

Summary: The committee met to take executive action on House Bill 2523, concerning the Community Reinvestment Program, and House Bill 2606, concerning the Office of Privacy and Data Protection. Staff briefed a proposed substitute for HB 2523 and several amendments. The substitute would change how Community Reinvestment Account funds are distributed, require tribal consultation, update the community reinvestment plan on a regular cycle, expand reporting and Office of Equity responsibilities, add definitions, and broaden the WSIPP study. Amendments to shorten the plan update cycle, restrict recipients from receiving other state housing assistance, bar certain officers and family members from grants, require independent audits, and expand WSIPP review were debated; only the amendment changing the plan update cycle from 10 years to 5 years was adopted. The committee then voted 8-5 to report the substitute HB 2523 out of committee with a do pass recommendation. HB 2606, which was described as implementing JLARC recommendations to reduce redundancy and improve efficiency in privacy/data protection functions, was then approved unanimously and reported out with a do pass recommendation. The committee then held public hearings on House Bill 2684 and House Joint Memorial 4012. HB 2684 would establish rebuttable presumptions that members of certain groups are socially disadvantaged for purposes of OMWBE certification, including adding Middle Eastern and North African individuals to the framework. Testimony was split: some speakers opposed the bill as discriminatory or constitutionally problematic, while others, including representatives of MENA businesses, CAIR Washington, and OMWBE, supported it as a needed fix to improve access to certification and contracting opportunities. The chair noted that amendments could still be submitted before the next day’s executive session, and the bill was set for further consideration the following morning. House Joint Memorial 4012 urges Congress to bring the Major Richard Star Act to a floor vote. The prime sponsor and veteran advocates testified that the memorial seeks to address the “wounded veteran tax” by allowing combat-injured service members who retire before 20 years of service to receive both retirement pay and VA disability compensation. Supporters said the change would correct an inequity affecting Washington veterans and their families. The committee closed the hearing on the memorial and announced that both HB 2684 and HJM 4012 would be considered the next morning.

Transcript Highlights:

• type of a disability.
• type of a disability.
• like a print disability where they're unable to read because of... ...like a print disability where
• they're unable to read because of that disability, such as dyslexia or other types of reading disabilities
• word out to where these populations of people with disabilities are located.

Committee: Senate Senate Committee on the Census

Keywords: 995, all

Summary: The Senate Committee on the Census held an early planning hearing on how Massachusetts can maximize participation in the 2030 census, with Chair Will Brownsberger and Vice Chair Rebecca Rausch emphasizing the need to start well in advance. The first panel, made up of leaders from the Massachusetts Voter Table, MassVOTE, MIRA, and MESA, stressed that grassroots community organizations are trusted messengers and should be funded early to do multilingual outreach, training, and direct assistance in hard-to-count communities. They described lessons from 2020, including the shift to internet response, reduced federal census infrastructure, the importance of coordinated statewide networks, and the need to begin messaging several years before Census Day because building trust and staffing outreach takes time. Panelists repeatedly warned that immigrant communities are facing heightened fear because of federal immigration enforcement and the possibility of a citizenship question or other federal changes, making census participation more difficult. They said 2020 funding arrived too late to fully staff and train outreach teams before the pandemic, and argued that future resources should be deployed earlier and more flexibly. In response to committee questions, they estimated Massachusetts should invest roughly $8 million to $10 million or more in state census outreach, with one proposed model of about $3 million to $5 million at the start, additional funding in the middle years, and a larger final push closer to 2030. They also suggested that funding should support communications infrastructure, translation, social media and ethnic media outreach, and possibly a permanent complete count structure or trust fund to preserve institutional knowledge. A second panel from Common Cause Massachusetts and the ACLU of Massachusetts echoed the call for stronger, earlier investment and stronger privacy protections. They urged the legislature to expand existing census line items, consider a trust fund or other dedicated funding stream, and coordinate census outreach with other state programs that already work through trusted community messengers. The ACLU testimony focused on racial inequities in census counts and warned that federal efforts to exclude non-citizens or add a citizenship question would deepen distrust and undercount immigrant communities. Committee members asked about the 2020 overcount/undercount results, funding levels, timing of grant distribution, and whether census outreach should be routed through the Secretary of the Commonwealth or other state mechanisms; no votes were taken, and the hearing moved on to a later panel on immigrant-community outreach.

Transcript Highlights:

• , the program provides cash benefits and health insurance, and benefits to over 800,000 children, which
• , the program provides cash benefits and health insurance, and benefits to over 800,000 children, which
• I think it's a distraction instead of a benefit. Excuse me.
• to protect disabled students, and more difficult to fight hunger and food insecurity.
• And so you're doing it for the benefit of yourself and your families and your co-workers.

Summary: The committee heard several labor and employment measures. AB 465 would require local public employers, at a union’s request, to negotiate minimum disciplinary and grievance procedures in MOUs, including progressive discipline, just-cause protections, grievance appeal rights, and paid release time for representatives. Supporters, including AFSCME and SEIU, said it would create fairer and more consistent due process protections for local government workers; opponents from county and city groups argued it would impose binding arbitration and rigid discipline rules that could undermine local flexibility and accountability. The bill passed on a 5-0 vote and was re-referred to Appropriations. AB 792 would allow court interpreter bargaining to be consolidated when multiple regions are negotiating at the same time. The author and the California Federation of Interpreters said the change would reduce repeated bargaining, improve efficiency, and help address interpreter recruitment and retention. There was no opposition, but some members questioned whether the proposal would really solve wage and staffing problems; the bill passed 5-0 and was placed on hold. AB 1309, which would improve Cal Fire firefighter compensation by tying salaries more closely to comparable local fire departments, drew strong support from firefighters and no opposition. Members praised Cal Fire’s work and the bill passed 7-0 and was held for add-ons. The committee also approved AJR 8, a resolution urging protection of Social Security and opposing federal cuts or office closures. Supporters said Social Security is essential to seniors, veterans, people with disabilities, and children, and warned that reductions would increase poverty and homelessness. One member objected to naming political figures in the resolution, but the measure still passed 7-0 and was held. AB 1247, which would require contracted-out school classified workers to meet the same training and qualification standards as direct hires and address related retirement contributions, passed 5-2 despite opposition from county superintendents and school administrators who said it would add costs and limit contracting flexibility. Finally, AB 288, which would authorize PERB to act when the NLRB fails to remedy labor claims by a deadline, passed 6-0 with strong union support and no opposition.

Transcript Highlights:

• advocate that Medicaid should be protected for those most vulnerable individuals, individuals with disabilities
• in their homes at mhca we disabilities in their homes at mhca we are<00:03:55.439><c> acutely</c><00
• This change will help providers address staff wage and benefit challenges.
• This change will help providers to address staff wage and benefit challenges.
• This change will help providers to address staff wage and benefit challenges.

Keywords: 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• of such disability, be excluded from participation in or be denied the benefits of the services, programs
• of such disability, be excluded from participation in or be denied the benefits of the services, programs
• of such disability, be excluded from participation in or be denied the benefits of the services, programs
• of such disability, be excluded from participation in or be denied the benefits of the services, programs
• of such disability, be excluded from participation in or be denied the benefits of the services, programs

Committee: House Municipal and County Government

Keywords: 1189, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• He said they are a nonprofit resort focusing on providing disabled veterans, the disabled public, and
• disabilities.
• </c> recreational experience for disabled recreational experience for disabled veterans<00:23:54.000>
• disabilities.
• Increasing our disabled veteran capacity at the resort and disabled public capacity at the resort.

Committee: House Veterans and Military Affairs Division

Keywords: 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• Under this bill, a student with a disability who participates in the Special Olympics for one school
• And it doesn't take into consideration the challenges that a person with autism and other disabilities
• This legislation will empower our students with disabilities and promote a more inclusive, efficient
• Next, we'll take up tab 2, SB 794 on the Agency for Persons with Disabilities by Senator Jones.
• And if those of you who know her story, she has a child with a disability.

Committee: Senate Children, Families, and Elder Affairs

Keywords: 999, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• affect your receipt of your benefits, which creates a new problem if you don't get the paperwork back
• So people with disabilities, I believe, have enough support.
• You're talking about people's benefits, and it could really affect their income and how they proceed.
• This building is shameful, that it is not accessible to people with disabilities.
• have enough support at home, if you could just please bring a disabled person with you to back that

Committee: House Local Government

Keywords: 959, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• To honor their sacrifice, the 81st Legislature granted a residence homestead exemption to 100% disabled
• And for a long time, it was not considered a service-connected disability.
• And for a long time, it was not considered a service-connected disability.
• And could it be 100% disability in those instances?
• In addition to all of the benefits that have already been highlighted by Mr.

Bills: HB42

Committee: Senate Finance

Keywords: special prosecutor, state law, criminal justice, accountability, law enforcement

Summary: The committee heard Senator Flores lay out the committee substitute for HB 2894, which would expand state reimbursement eligibility for local governments disproportionately affected by the disabled veterans homestead exemption. Flores said the bill would add certain municipalities in Bell, Coryell, and Lampasas counties if lost ad valorem tax revenue equals or exceeds 10% of general revenue, while existing recipients would remain under the current 2% threshold. Lampasas and Bell County officials and the City of Killeen testified in support, describing significant revenue losses and urging adequate funding. One witness, Howard Avery, argued any reimbursement should be counted as property tax revenue for voter-approval rate purposes to avoid a windfall. The committee later adopted the substitute and reported the bill favorably, with one nay. The committee also heard SB 782, which would create a temporary severance tax exemption for restimulated inactive oil and gas wells, intended to encourage investment in mature wells. The Comptroller explained the revised fiscal note as effectively zero because the wells are currently marginal and not generating meaningful tax revenue, while industry witnesses said the bill could extend well life, support local economies, and reduce orphan-well liabilities. Public testimony was supportive, and the bill was left pending. Members then heard HB 3033, a DPS-related grant program funded by voluntary $3 donations on driver’s license and ID applications to support nonprofits aiding injured or fallen DPS officers and their families, including memorial highway signs. The DPS Officers Association supported the bill, citing existing foundation assistance and the need for a steady funding stream. The committee later reported the bill favorably. The committee also considered SB 524, which would permanently extend the franchise tax and fee exemption for qualifying veteran-owned businesses for their first five years; testimony from a veteran business owner and veterans advocates supported the measure, and the committee adopted the substitute and reported it favorably. Additional measures were laid out and left pending or voted out: HB 3594, a local San Antonio retiree health care fund bill with agreed changes for contributions, spouse benefits, and remarriage rules, was supported by stakeholders and reported favorably; HB 4738 would repeal small administrative fees tied to certain loans and was reported favorably; HB 42 on HEAF funding and HB 5246 on the Texas Space Commission were heard and left pending. The committee also reported HB 3474, a cleanup bill for the Pension Review Board’s investment performance review schedule, and HB 2802, the Austin firefighter retirement fund bill, both favorably. Finally, the committee took up HB 1056, which would allow gold and silver held in the Texas Bullion Depository to function as legal tender through debit-card transactions. Supporters framed it as a way to use hard assets and expand financial options, while bankers and some senators raised major operational, consumer-protection, tax, and constitutional questions; the bill remained under discussion as testimony began.

Transcript Highlights:

• I would want to make sure that we're not in any way depriving our retirees of benefits.
• to their retirees, but not for the future benefits of the current employees.
• And this is not just to benefit us; the state itself benefits through the additional taxes we will pay
• It will benefit schools, students, parenting teachers, and their children.
• I have retired for the record in support of House Bill 2890, disability income bill.

Committee: Joint Joint Committee on Public Service

Keywords: 995, all

Summary: The committee heard testimony on a range of public retirement and municipal health insurance bills. Mass Retirees and the American Federation of Teachers supported House 2890/Senate 1848 on transparency in municipal health insurance, arguing that broker and consultant roles should be clearly defined, commissions disclosed, and dual roles prohibited to reduce conflicts of interest and costs. They also supported House 2799/Senate 1848 on protecting municipal retirees from future premium contribution increases, House 2854 on voting rights for surviving spouses in retirement board elections, and Senate 1917 on updating the definition of veteran for retirement purposes. Committee members discussed whether the veteran definition should simply conform to the federal definition going forward. Educators testified in support of House 2769/Senate 1921, which would allow teachers with at least 20 years of service to buy back creditable service for periods when they worked part-time while raising children. Multiple teachers described the financial and retirement penalties they experienced after stepping down to part-time work for child care, calling the current system inequitable and a “mom tax.” Sponsors and supporters said the bill is intended to correct that disparity and help retain teachers, while one committee member noted it appeared neutral on an actuarial basis. The committee also heard strong support for Senate 1908, which would raise the cap on outside income for public pension recipients, from retired State Police troopers who said the current limit is outdated and unfair to those forced into disability retirement after line-of-duty injuries. Another State Police representative supported House 2910 on state police pensions, citing recruitment and retention problems under current pension rules. In contrast, Hampden County Regional Retirement System officials and the Massachusetts Association of Contributory Retirement Systems opposed House 2745, a bill to restructure the Hampden County system’s governance, arguing it would weaken PERAC oversight and create an unworkable local system. They instead supported House 2813, which would extend the time to fill a vacant fifth member seat on retirement boards. At the end of the hearing, the committee voted to adjourn the hearing.

Transcript Highlights:

• For the record, forecasted programs represent programs where eligibility rules are set in statute, benefit
• <00:02:11.599><c> levels</c><00:02:12.360><c> or</c><00:02:13.280><c> uh</c><00:02:13.599><c> benefit
• </c><00:02:13.959><c> sets</c><00:02:14.280><c> are</c> benefit levels or uh benefit sets are benefit
• We're seeing increased disability waiver spending growth, as we did in November.
• </c><00:05:53.880><c> or</c> adults and people with disabilities or adults and people with disabilities

Committee: House Human Services Finance and Policy

Keywords: 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• can access those benefits is really important.
• North Dakota that are qualified for SNAP benefits can access those benefits is really important.
• In the middle, we have the child care workforce benefit.
• That employer provides a monthly paid benefit of $150 or $300. The state then matches that benefit.
• Chairman, I think that would be useful to know because if the hospital can benefit or the state can benefit

Committees: Joint Human Services , Joint Human Services Committee

Keywords: 908, all

Transcript Highlights:

• supports and services through a variety of different means, as well as connectivity to various state benefit
• SB 837 requires the Aging and Disability Resource Connection programs to offer disaster and emergency
• The commission heard from experts in emergency management, aging and disability services, long-term..
• Older adults and people with disabilities to fend for themselves during disasters.
• So I, if you... fire, some of whom were seniors, some of whom were persons with disabilities.

Committee: Senate Human Services

Keywords: 987, senate, all